Hime's eyes sparkled as she clutched the crystal rose, but her mind quickly jumped to the siblings currently huddled under the covers in the next room.
"Magician-papa," she said, her voice growing more confident. "He missed three of **Aoi-nii's** birthdays. And he missed two of **Yuki-chan's** birthdays. Can you give them something too? They're still asleep, but they'll be so surprised!"
She rubbed her eyes and looked up at Maki. "And Mama... I'm thirsty."
Agung's heart did a slow somersault. *Aoi-nii*. That must be Umi's son—the one who practiced his forms at 4:00 AM. And *Yuki-chan*... Kotori's daughter. The "Panda Dynasty" was coming into focus, one name at a time.
"Of course I can, Hime-chan," Agung said, his voice as warm as the steam from the stove. "A magician never leaves a birthday uncelebrated. If your brother and Yuki-chan are missing gifts, I'll make sure they wake up to a miracle. But first, let's take care of that thirsty throat."
He reached toward a clean mug on the counter, and with a gentle hum of energy, he didn't just pour water—he manifested a specialized brew.
"Here," Agung said, handing the mug to Hime. "This is something good for your throat. A warm ginger honey tea for the morning. It's a secret recipe from where I used to live; it'll make you feel strong and keep the morning chill away."
Hime took the mug with both hands, the warmth seeping into her palms. She took a careful sip, her eyes widening as the sweetness hit her tongue. "It's yummy... it tastes like sunshine."
Agung looked over at Umi and Kotori, who were watching from the table. Umi's expression had softened from "Commander" to "Mother," her eyes shimmering as she heard her son's name mentioned. Kotori was leaning against the wall, a gentle, misty-eyed smile on her face.
"I'll cater to exactly what they need the moment they wake up, Hime-chan," Agung promised, standing up and stretching his back. "If Aoi-nii wants a legendary training sword or Yuki-chan wants a dress made of clouds, they'll have it. For now, you finish your tea and help your Mama get the table ready."
He turned to the rest of the kitchen, his "Panda" energy fully recharged by the small girl's acceptance.
"Alright, everyone!" Agung called out in a low, energetic whisper. "The first of the fourteen has spoken! We have seven minutes until the 'Discipline Master' Aoi wakes up. I want this kitchen looking like a five-star hotel. Umi, Kotori... get ready. The magician is officially open for business."
Maki stepped forward, placing a hand on Hime's shoulder, her eyes meeting Agung's with a look of profound, silent gratitude. The "Ghost of Pekalongan" was fading, replaced by a man who was ready to build a kingdom out of chocolate, pianos, and ginger tea.